Sunday, February 20, 2011

Country Potato Salad and My First Cookbook

First, a little backstory behind this recipe...

My husband and I were married in 1997. The following year we moved to England. My husband was in the Navy and that was to be our new duty station. I was only 22 years old at the time and I was ecstatic about living in another country but I was also a little scared about moving so far away from all of our friends and family. We were to be there for 3 years and that meant I was also going to have to find a job there and learn to drive on the wrong side left side of the road.

We found a little bungalow in the London suburbs in a town called Northwood. It had a very tiny kitchen but it had enough room for a small table. I really wanted to be able to make some good meals in this new home of ours. Unfortunately, I didn't know how to make a whole lot. I made a pretty good lasagna and that was about it. We didn't have a home computer then so there wasn't a website or blog I could go to for help. Instead, I had my Mom

Well, as close to my Mom as I could get. She sent me my first cookbook that first year we were there. Moms always know just the right thing to get you, don't they?

This cookbook really saved me. I got so many great recipes from it and I still go to it first when I am looking for something to make. Before I got this book, I had taken the most horrible fruit salad (which looked more like fruit soup) to a potluck that my husband's boss was having at his house. What a first impression that was. I was so embarrassed! I was determined to redeem myself the next time around.

And that's just what I did. I had this book for about 2 weeks before another potluck rolled around. And this time, Chief Wilson, the hubby's boss, offered to give me his cheesecake recipe if I would give him this potato salad recipe. No problem! And to this day, I still make his cheesecake and this potato salad. They are classics to me now. I've only slightly modified this recipe over the years.

Ingredients:

2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (about 6 medium)

1 ½ cups of mayonnaise (no Miracle Whip please)

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

3-4 tablespoons of chicken stock or broth

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 stalks of celery, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

1 medium onion, finely chopped (about ½ cup)

4 hard boiled eggs, chopped

Directions:

Peel and dice potatoes into cubes. Place potatoes into a large pot of water. Boil for about 20 minutes (or until fork tender). Take care not to overcook your potatoes – you don’t want them overly mushy.

Cook’s Note: Potatoes love to soak up all the mayonnaise, so if you noticed your salad is just a little dry when you are ready to serve, add a little more mayonnaise and chicken stock and it will restore the creaminess of your potato salad. How do you make the perfect hard boiled egg? Put eggs in a medium pot. Cover with cool water. Place on burner over high heat. Bring to a boil then take pot off of heat and cover with lid. Set timer for 15 minutes. Dump water out of pot and rinse with cool water. You will have perfectly hard boiled eggs and no green rings!

Sydney - it took me a good 2 months to get completely comfortable. I cannot even tell you how many times I would go to work early in the morning (half awake) and accidentally start off on the right side of the road and then quickly have to get back over to the left side. It is so second nature! Thank the Lord I never got in an accident!

Hehe, well that is shorter than I would have guessed for myself to get used to it! What job did you find there? I imagine it might have been difficult finding one without England residency? I don't know...

I worked in banking. I had a really great job with some pretty fantastic people. They helped me learn so much. And I'm fortunate that we are all still friends after all these years! I highly recommend traveling overseas (if you haven't done so already). It is so much fun to be young and travel. Opens you up to some wonderful experiences!

Wow, that's great! We recently moved back from living in Peru for a long time [so I also recommend the same thing - love it!] and it was extremely difficult for a non-resident without various other approvals to get any sort of job! What a blessing you had special friends help take care of you in your hugely new experience!

Sydney - I definitely think Peru would be far more of a culture shock! What an experience that must have been for you! I just think it is amazing that you took the initiative to do something like that. I would love to hear more about your travels!

Brandie,That first cookbook of yours is just so precious. It's extra special with your Mum's gorgeous comment in it, too! I bet you know them all from memory by now ;-) That was so young to cope with such a huge change. You're amazing!

This potato salad sounds like the kind that my Mom used to make except for the chicken broth. Very sweet of your Mom to give you the cookbook. Whenever there was a get together I would always have her bring her potato salad, because I didn't like to peel potatoes. I was young then.

What a great post Brandie, Moms and Grandmas are always the best. They'll always make us see the light an the the shoulder to cry on. The potato salad looks delicious. Looking forward to the cheesecake recipe too :)Hope you'll have a wonderful Monday

What wonderful memories you have of learning to cook! Thank you for sharing the story, especially about the start with the fruit soup. We all have to start somewhere and it's so lovely that your colleagues were so helpful. Thanks for sharing a great and classic recipe with me, too!

Your potato salad reminds me of my first days of blogging. I made a potato salad that sounds identical to yours. Delicious! I had to laugh with your fruit soup story. I had cooking anxiety when we got invited to my guy's supervisor's house for Thanksgiving and I was asked to bring dessert. I set out to testing recipes the instant I got my assignment. Even after making the recipe a handful of times my nerves were still racked that day. My dessert ended up in the pantry somehow at their house never to even be set out. Needless to say I was too embarassed to even ask for my tupperware container back. Maybe I'll get my reprieve like you got.

This potato salad looks great. How sweet of your momm to send you the cookbook :) My mom gave me a binder of family recipes that she made especially for my one year at christmas and it is so special :) Also, thanks for the tip on not twisting the biscuit cutter. Have a nice day!Katie

Hi, Brandie! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment :) Thank goodness for mom's, right? What a great story behind this dish - a huge transition for someone so young. We've visited London a few years ago, but I don't think I'd be brave enough to drive there! We did drive in Ireland, but at least they were mostly small towns and country roads! Your Country potato salad is as good as it gets - and its great you added the boiled egg tips and no substituting Miracle Whip!!!

I so enjoyed hearing about your newlywed days (in a new country on top of that!) and the sweet gift that your mom shared with you. Moms do know best! Thank you for sharing your words and this recipe! And thank you for your sweet thoughts on my blog. I appreciate you!

What would we do without our mothers? Sweet story! You're killing me with all this delicious summer food, though, first the baked beans, now this delicious potato salad. I may have to break down and have a picnic in front of the fire place!

Aw, so sweet. My first cookbook was Better Homes and Gardens, back in university. That thing was so beat up and dog-eared by the time I was done with it! Great potato salad.FYI, erythritol can be purchased online or at Whole Foods (Zsweet brand). Is your mum a diabetic? If she's just gluten free, use real sugar (about 1/2 cup). It's cheaper!

I'm a little behind on my reads lately, but I just had to comment on this before I hit the cheesecake post. This story sure brings back memories of my first years in marriage. My mom bought me a similar cookbook that I still like to cook out of. Only now, I'm more free to add and take away ingredients and feel completely confidant. Thanks for sharing this story Brandie:)

I just love hearing about your early years and your family...really good stuff. The Potato dish looks so delicious, we just love dishes like this. Thank you so much for sharing these precious moments with us at Full Plate Thursday and please come back!

This looks wonderful! I have been having a blast looking through all of your tasty recipes! My mom got me a cookbook the first Christmas I was married and boy has it been a lifesaver sometimes! :)I'm off to the kitchen to make some potato salad now. :)

Looks wonderful! Oh those memories of our young married days can bring some good laughs huh? I have those too. Thanks for sharing yours...and your treasured cookbook. Great post Gal! Enjoy a wonderful weekend...I've already linked some favorites to Weekend Potluck. Thanks for all you do to make my life brighter! XO

My Mom gave me my Grandma's Betty Crocker cookbook when I left home back in 1980. It was dated 1956. I treasure that book and seldom bring it out these days. It hangs on my dining room wall in A special rack that also holds a rolling pin. I will hand it down whwn my sons marry.Love the potato salad recipe. It is pure southern style, although I do love Miracle Whip in it too.I also boil my eggs the way you do. They turn out perfect every single time. Creamy and no green! Love your blog. Keep up the good work!

OH my another great hit..girl you got it goin on, everything we've tried from you has been great!! I have been looking & looking for my moms old potato salad recipe that was given to her mother & so on & so forth, but unfortunately with a passing of family members things go "missing" :( Sooo for the most part from what I could remember from helping her so much when I was younger I knew some but couldn't remember exact measurements & so on. One thing I have never heard of was using chicken broth/stock in potato salad but O-M-G this is that "secret" ingredient that you wonder what it is that makes it taste soo great. Of course as we all do I put my own twist on this--i'm not a big celery person so instead of celery I used relish & for this "sauce" it was a little too much but thankfully I had made a WHOLE bunch of potatoes so it worked out well adding a little bit more potatoes, onions, relish, & eggs. Though it's not my moms it's a nice "my" modern twist of hers....thank you Brandie sooooo much

I made this patatoe salad yesterday for my bday party and let me just tell you my guest loved it to the point were my bowl was left licked clean lol very creamy I added crushed bacon gave it a more zing to it ty so much for this recipe

Yay!! I am so happy you had success this one! Thank you so much for letting me know how it turned out for you! I am so happy you loved it as much as we do. I hope you find lots more recipes on here that you love!

I have that same Betty Crocker cookbook. It is the best cookbook I own--everything you need know about how to cook, from boiling an egg to making homemade gravy. Great gift for a bridal shower or a bachelor. I really enjoy your blog. Your recipes are fantastic. Thank you for sharing them.

Exactly! I know some folks see the eggs and mustard and wonder if it is good but I tell them that I promise it all blends well. Not too strong mustard or eggs. Thank you for taking the time to comment! :)

Brandie, I just made the potato salad, it was really good and so easy, my family loved it. I need to make it again to get more for myself this time. As for the eggs... I bought them already hard boiled and peeled... I know its kinda lazy but its faster.

Made the potato salad Sunday. Love, love, love it! My husband is a picky eater and his mom always brings potato salad to our summer get-togethers. He said his mom's feelings are going to be hurt because he won't eat any other potato salad but this one!

Thank you for sharing your recipe and making the steps easy for all to understand. I have added a link to your page from my blog. I do hope that is ok. If not please let me know and I will remove it. http://dailydiylife.blogspot.com Thank you! Heatherdailydiylife@gmail.com

Hi! I have made so many of your recipes and some of them are my favorites! I actually just made one this AM. Anyway, I HAD to comment because I actually HAVE that cookbook! My grandmother gave it to me when I was 19. I wanted to tell you that if you have not made the Pancake recipe, you have to try it. It is the best recipe I have come across.

Hi Brandie, I was just on pintrest looking at potato salads. My all time favorite is mayo, mustard, eggs, celery and onion. Never thot about chx broth. You know what i do use is dill pickle juice. Perfect replacement for vinegar, No? Try it next time. What do people do with all that juice anyway? lol Teri.

I made this salad today because I was looking for a basic recipe since I didn't want to run to the store and knew I would have everything for something basic. I didn't use the chicken stock because I didn't feel like making any this morning. I also added a spicy mustard along with the yellow mustard and used white wine vinegar instead of plain. I also used a red onion for color. This turned out great! And btw, that cookbook was my first cookbook too! I used that all the time when I first started cooking because it had so much info! If you're a first time cook that's definitely the book to get.